Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-12
Trafalgar Square.

Manchester Weekly Times London Correspondence
The loss of Trafalgar Square as place OF public
meeting on important occasions would be q great
deprivation to the working classes OF London
There Is no covered space in the heart of London
large enough for a real demonstration OF the peo-
pie. The biggest places are theaters like the Hay
market or COvent Garden, or Drury Lane, or the
Princess, or ST. James Hall, but besides being
inadequate they cannot be hired-if they can be
are absolutely prohIDitive Trafalgar square is an
admirable place for meeting, as many elninently
successful meetings have proved IL is a wide,
open space, nicely paved and perfectly level, and
lies like great shelf on the side OF gentle slope.
AT the upper end or the square 1t IS overlooked by
the wide roadway In front OF the National Gallery.
The protecting parapet is q natural platform
which half a dozen orators might harangue from as
many mass-meetings below without greatly incom-
mOding each other. The plinth or the Nelson
monument, near the lower end II the square though
II was never intended for the purpose OF rostruin
10000 men might stand In the square and listen
all day long to lectures on uneXcting subjects
such as geology or the courses OF the planets,
without disturbing single human being whose
ordinary business carried him along any one OF
the surrounding thoroughfares. 1t Is the great
central point at which the omnibus traffic of
and disperses. 1t Is near the underground rail-
way and the river There is no other spot in
more rapidly assemble, or from which its cOmpO-
ne Mt parts can more easily get away. Hyde Park,
greater space, is mot in the running" with the
square In respect OF accessibility. The main OBJ
lection TO meetings In Trafalgar Square Is the In
terruptiOn OF street traffic which occurs when IL Is
made the gathering point OF conyergng professions
This objection is at least applicable to Hyde Park
The shOpkeepers in the strand and about Trafalgar
square have prevailed with Mr.. Matthews. Mr..
Jacob Bright, In letter he has written upon the
subject, gently upbriids these tradesmen for their
lack OF consideration for the poor, trying 70 per-
suade them that 1t Is better to suer some lack OF
public patronage than to close the mouth OF un-
rest. The tradesmen or the Strand and about
Trafalgar Square are entitled TO every cOnSdera-
ton, and their case deserves some sympathy. But,
like tiadesmen and other people everywhere they
must take the rough with the smooth. They enjoy
great advantage at normal times, and for eleven
out OF twelve months every year, from the fact OF
their proximity TO the finest site OF Europe, which
has been kept open and made fine, not by any spe-
cial expenditure on their part, but by liberal out
lays from the public purse. The special value
which attaches to hotel overlooking The square as
compared with a hotel in q back street on HO-
born Is, TO large extent, In the nature OF ''un-
earned increment" Property owners In possession
OF this great advantage should not press their
claims to the enjoyment OF 1t too fast or too far
A CHORUS GIRLS ELOPEMENT.-A dispatch from
KanOuse is a granddaughter OF ex-GOv. William
K Taylor. Kitty was pretty chorus girl at the
production OF the cantata OF "Queen Esther at
StOughtOn few evenings ago, and before the last
act stepped past her waiting father and became q
which Grant Shelter, sturdy young farmer, il
hero The young couple met outside Of the Opera
House, jumped into waiting carriage, and whirled
away 70 Oregon, where binding but informal
ceremony was performed While this was in
Ing all over the country for ofdcers 70 appfehend
his daughter, but IL was too late. KanOuse was
Philosophical, for when he ascertalned that the
young people had successfully thwarted him he
extended paternal forgiveness.
.